So when is the perfect time to put your kid in preschool?

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Kristen - posted on 01/16/2009

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I keep my kids home when they're three and do a "Mommy and Me" preschool, complete with learning activities, snacks, crafts, ABCs, then when they are four I put them in a regular preschool where they can learn the socialization side of things. This method has really worked well in preparing them for kindergarten and costs tons less than two full years of preschool. Plus you will get some great one on one time with your child. If you have more than one child at home during the day, you can have preschool during the other child's naptime or at night when Dad can watch the others. There are lots of great websites that have fun learning activities you can do with your child. Good luck!!!

I have done alot of research on this. Alot of "experts" say that around 3 or 4 is ideal, HOWEVER, alot of those same experts say that a babies mind is always learning, and it is best to start teaching from the get go. My son started when he was almost 4. my daughter was 2.5. I have noticed they are very good learners, and much better with other kids.

When you do enroll i STRONGLY suggest montessori schools ! I have been to other schools, and my kids learned more in one week of montessori than they did in months of a regular school, and they are now well prepared for any school.

I am a Stay at home mom of 3 children. I think that each child grows differently. Some might be ready at 2 others at 3. There are plenty of programs out there for you to attend with your 2-3 year old that help the transition to preschool easier. My second child turned 3 in October so she was almost 4 when she started and if I would have started her as a two year old I think she would have had a hard time. She just was not ready to let go of her Mommy and me time. My first child bithday is in January so he was 3 1/2 and was ready to go. They are now in 1st and 3rd grade respectively and are doing very well.

My daughter went to a daycare that ran off of a curriculum, so really started to get that pre-school experience when she was 2 to 3. She is in a regular preschool now at the age of 4. It is somewhat different, but not much. There are church pre-schools that accept at the age of 3, but there is usually a waiting list, which is why we had to wait. But she got a good start from her daycare experience. You just have to check with the daycares on who teaches with a curriculum or if it is just basically babysitting. Nationwide daycares like Kindercare and LaPetite have curriculums that are developed by education professionals. Just to give you an idea.

I am the director of an award winning preschool- and it is our feeling that three is the right age for preschool. Storytime or other programs that child can attend with you all helps with the transition into preschool. Ours is a co op preschool and I feel strongly about the positive awards of parental involvement in your childs education. Many studies (and plenty of years experience ) proves this theroy,

I think the earlier the better. Most school's I have seen start at three but I put my 1 and 2 year olds in gymnastics and Kindermusik mommy and me classes for the social interaction. Most library's have a mommy and me storytime. I think the more your child is exposed to social experiences and environments where they are required to sit and follow basic order the more confident and compfortable they will be when they start school. That and with all the No Child Left Behind legislation the kids are expected to do alot more than we were at their age in school. Also an experienced preschool teacher is worth their weight in gold. My 2nd son's preschool teacher has previously taught 10 years of Kindergarten. After already going through Kindergarten with one child I have been extremely impressed by how well she has prepared my son this year. Also I would check the websight for the board of education in your state and see what their suggested preschool curriculum is...it is full of things at home you can work on...for example simple things like skipping I wouldn't think of but I guess in studies they have found mastering the cordination of skipping helps prepare little kids brains for what they need to learn in school. That and any kid websights like scholastic.com or www.pbs.com have great games to play...anyway you can expose your kid to reading and math the better off they will be. Once they start school you'll find you do alot of the teaching forexample 20 min. of reading everynight. Jave fun they grow way to fast.

I put my daughter in at 2 1/2 1 day a week for 3 hours totally for social skills. she had real issues with sharing, especially at the park, she did not like the other kids using the swings or the slide or anything so I put her in pre school.

I would say when you think the child was ready. My daughter started when she was 3 but she turned four in Nov. She really wanted to go to school badly. She was very good at sitting down and doing things so I enrolled her. She loves it and she is having a great time and she loves to go.

I would say the latest would be 3 or 4. I agree the sooner the better. I find my oldest daughter better off now that she is socilized and she is smart too (some days too smart she remembers everything.)

I have 3 children two of which started daycare/preschool at a young age and one that started preschool at the normal age of 4-5. The two that started school/daycare sooner did better academically and were able to comprehend and learn easier than the oldest child whom started school later. So in my personal experience earlier is better.

the SOONER the better, it gives them social skills & they learn quicker. My kids were in a pre-school WAAAAYYYY before entering Kindergarten (they were in a daycare/pre-k facility) & they were reading before going to K.